84 join monkhood to celebrate HM the King’s birthday

Eighty-six Pattaya-area residents joined the monkhood to mark the start of HM the King’s 86th year at an ordination ceremony organized by the city for His Majesty’s birthday.

The Dec. 3 ceremony outside Pattaya City Hall saw Chonburi Gov. Khomsan Ekachai join Mayor Itthiphol Kunplome and Banglamung District Chief Chawalit Saeng-Uthai to lead the hair-cutting ceremony for the novices, inviting family members and friends to participate. They also lit candles and joss sticks, recited prayers and paid respect to a painting of HM the King, who turned 85 Dec. 5.

Novice monks begin their procession towards Jittapawan College.

The start of the eight-day ordination process featured a parade of monks’ robes and pleas for forgiveness. The aspirants then marched from city hall to Walking Street along Beach Road, back again via Second Road and ending their procession at Jittapawan College, where the monks-to-be completed their training.

The following day they attended ceremonies at Buddhiwararam, Jittapawan Vittaya, Sawangfah Pritaram, Nong Yai, and Thamsamakkee temples. Then all of the new Buddhist monks returned to study Dharma together at Jittapawan College, where they stayed for the balance of the week.

This article was published in the Pattaya Mail newspaper on Friday December 21, 2012 (Vol. XX No. 51).